Post-office case



(Modai.)

J. R. GROWDER & J. T. HAILE.

Post Office Gase. No. 233,992. Patented Nov. 2,1880.

l l VlllllllllllllIIIIrI/M N PETERS, PHDTO-LITHDGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. DC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. OROWDER, E eAINEsvILLE, AND JAMES fr. HAILE, OF WHlrEs- BOROUGH,TExAs.

POST-OFFICE CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,992, dated November2, 1880.

Application filed May 7, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN R. GROWDER, of Gainesville, Cook county, Stateof Texas, and JAMES T. HAILE, of Whitesborough, in the county of Graysonand State of Texas, have invented a new and valuable Improvement inRevolving Post-Office Cases; and we do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and rooperation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part ot' this specification, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a perspective i 5 view of our improvedpost-office case. Fig. 2 is a central section thereon. Fig. 3 is a planview, and Fig. 4 is a detail.

This invention has relation to improvements in post-office cases fordistributing and 2o shipping mails; and it consists in a caseconstructed and operating substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A designates a circular metallicplate of any de- 2 5 sired diameter, and constituting the base or bottomof my improved case, and the top thereof consists of a metallic disk, C,of the salme diameter, and having in it a preferably semicircular opening, a, closed at pleasure by a hinged door, b.

The disks A and O are connected together at their middle portions by acylinder, D, arranged concentric to the peripheries of the disks A G,and of the same (or of a slightly greater) curvature as the opening aaforesaid, whereby a convenient center pocket, E, is thus formed for thereception of printed matter generally, or other like mail.

Secured to the outer side of cylinder D are one or more annular shelves,F, subdivided by radial partitions c into pigeon-holes d, usuallytwenty-six in number, and lettered in regular order from a 7 to z. Theshelves and partitions do not extend out from the 45 cylinder D as faras the perimeters of the (Model.)

disks A G by several inches, which leaves at the sides of the case theprojecting marginal dan ges e, the object of which will hereinafterappear.

Arranged parallel to partitions c, and with 5o a slight interval betweenthem, are other partitions, c. In the interval thus formed are held thesliding doors f, which, when drawn out and swung inward upon the case,close the pigeon-holes d. These doors are provided with short projectingpins, t', that engage the slots i', formed in the disks and shelvesbetween the partitions c c. When closed in upon the case the doors aresecured by a spring or other fastening, h, attached to the 6o sides ofthe partitions c.

Gr indicates a removable woven-steel band, of a width equal to thedistance from the disk A to the disk C and of a length to pass neatlyaround the perimeter of the case between the said disks; or, if desired,a band of any other material and construction may be used extendingaround the case. The meeting-edges of this retainer-band are broughttogether and secured by the usual mail-locks, or by other 7o suitablemeans. When thus secured the band effectually prevents the doors fromopening.

This case, when in position for distributing with the band removed, maybe mounted on a suitable spindle, S, supported by a base, the saidspindle passing through central bearings in the bottoni and top disks ofthe case, and it may be consequently' rotated to bring any desiredpigeonhole opposite the distributing clerk. It may be readily lifted offthe spindle 8o and placed on the door with the perimeters of the flangese resting thereon, when it may be rolled upon said flanges to anydesired position. The flanges being exterior to the casing-band, asshown, prevent it from touching the floor and becoming soiled.

We do not coniine ourselves to any special material in constructing ourcase, nor do we consider it necessary to use the specific form ofsliding` door described.

ng the central i In testimony that we claim the above we r 5 havehereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN R. CROWDER. JAMES THOMAS HAILE.

Witnesses as to signature of J. R. Crowder:

OLIVER P. Woon, P. H. LAMUs.

Witnesses as to signature of J. T. Haile:

PHILIP C. MAsI, JOHN A. ELLIS.

LAL

